Ukrainian lawyer Ilya Novikov, defending Nord Stream bombing suspect, criticizes Zelensky and discusses the case

Lawyer’s background

Ilya Novikov, born in Russia, relocated to Ukraine in 2019. In Russia, he has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years for spreading “fake news,” labeled a “foreign agent,” added to the “terrorists and extremists” registry, and wanted for treason for fighting on Ukraine’s side.

Nord Stream case

Novikov is defending Ukrainian citizen Serhii Kuznetsov, detained in connection with the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Kuznetsov was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and brought to Hamburg in November. German investigators believe he acted in the interests of a foreign state (Ukraine), and he is held in a detention facility for terrorism suspects.

According to court documents, Kuznetsov was an officer in a special operations unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the sabotage was likely initiated by Ukrainian state authorities. However, former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny is not mentioned in the document. The indictment is not yet final; it may be filed by the end of June 2026.

Novikov states that Kuznetsov’s position is silence, not denial. He chose this strategy to force the prosecution to prove its case. The maximum objective is complete acquittal; the minimum is any improvement in Kuznetsov’s situation.

War and politics

Novikov criticizes President Zelensky and his administration, and also represents former President Petro Poroshenko. He argues that peace negotiations with Putin are unlikely because Putin still believes he can break Ukraine. If Western aid ends, Ukraine could be annihilated.

Regarding life in Kyiv, Novikov notes that residents have become accustomed to constant threats – missiles typically arrive in the morning, while drones fly at night. Most people do not go to shelters due to work, developing an unhealthy fatalism.